Viruses that cause the common cold, flu and other respiratory illnesses rise every fall and winter and being prepared is essential. 

• If you are sick, stay home. You must be feeling better before returning to campus.
• Students can get their flu shots from the Student Wellness Centre (typically offered in mid-October). 
• Employees can get their vaccinations at the Campus Medicine Shop Pharmacy or via the Sask Health Authority.

Anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, should consider taking a rapid antigen COVID-19 test.

Isolation guidelines

Follow the Government of Saskatchewan's isolation guidelines to determine if you must isolate before coming back to USask.

• Employees, if you need to take time away from work because of COVID-19 or other illness, please contact your people leader to make arrangements.
• Students, if you need to miss class or an exam because you are sick, contact your instructor(s). Learn more about how to reschedule an exam.

Whooping cough is a serious and highly contagious infection of the lungs and throat caused by Bordetella pertussis bacteria. If you are experiencing or develop any of the symptoms of whooping cough, see a doctor for assessment, testing and any appropriate treatment.

Symptoms include:

• Whooping cough starts like a common cold with symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, mild fever and a mild cough.
• During the next week or two, the cough gets worse, leading to severe coughing spells that often end with a whooping sound before the next breath, especially in young children.
• Teenagers and adults may not make the whooping sound.
• The cough can last one to two months and occurs more often at night. The cough can make a person gag or spit out mucus, and make it hard to take a breath.

Early diagnosis and treatment is important to stop the spread of the whooping cough bacteria. It is treated with antibiotics, which help to reduce the spread of infection and the duration of illness when given during the very early stage of the illness. A person with whooping cough who does not get treatment can spread the germ to others for up to three weeks after the cough starts. Whooping cough spreads easily when an infected person coughs, sneezes or has close contact with others.

• Whooping cough fact sheet

Global measles outbreaks are on the rise. A decline in measles immunizations during the pandemic and a resurgence in international travel are leading to a higher risk of measles spreading from one country or region to another, with subsequent local outbreaks.

You are at risk for measles if:‎

• You have not been fully vaccinated or have not had measles in the past.
• You travel internationally to and from areas where measles is spreading.

If you have symptoms of measles (Rubelola) or have been in contact with someone who has measles, you shouldn’t travel. Contact your local public health authority right away and follow their advice.

MPox (or Monkeypox) is a disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus, which is part of the same family of viruses as the virus that causes smallpox. MPox causes similar symptoms as smallpox but is less severe.

Common symptoms include a rash that can look like pimples or blisters on any part of the body, fever and chills, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, muscle or back pain, headache, and respiratory symptoms.

Mpox is generally spread from person-to-person through close contact, including:

• direct contact with the infectious rash or body fluids
• respiratory secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact, or during intimate physical
  contact
• touching items that previously touched the infectious rash or body fluids.

If you have symptoms:

• isolate at home away from others
• immediately contact your health care provider or call HealthLine 8-1-1 for advice and to determine where to get tested

You are contagious from the first onset of symptoms until scabs have fallen off on their own and the skin is healed. Illness typically lasts 2–4 weeks and it can take up to 3 weeks to develop symptoms after an exposure.

For more information, visit Public Health Agency of Canada–Monkeypox.

Keeping our campus community safe

• Stay up-to-date with your vaccinations. Vaccination is a simple, safe, and effective way of protecting people against harmful diseases, before they come into contact with them, including an updated COVID-19 vaccination.
• Get your flu shot. Keep your immunizations up to date. Staff and faculty can get their shots at the Campus Medicine Shop Pharmacy or via the Sask Health Authority. 
• Use a mask. If you are in crowded settings or if you are or are around those at risk of more severe disease and outcomes, you should consider wearing a mask. 
• Wash and dry your hands! Regularly washing your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water to reduce risks of infection and transmission of illness.